Bony Fixation of the Torn Meniscus – A New ‘All-Inside’ Surgircal Technique (Preliminary Results) (SS-29)

Abstract

Methods: A retrospective review of 117 consecutive 'all inside' arthroscopic meniscal repairs using a single suture technique from 1993 to 2006 by a single surgeon identified 53 isolated repairs and 64 in combination with ACL reconstruction. All tears were 2 cm or greater. Age averaged 30 years (range: 13-65). Outcomes of age, gender, and medial vs. lateral sidedness were also studied. Meniscal repair failure was defined as recurrence of pain at the repair site.Results: At an average follow-up of 38 months, there were 9 failures (7.7%). The average time to failure was 24 months (range: 3-108), with 6 requiring surgical intervention. Three failed in the ACL group (4.6%) and 6 in the non ACL group (12.9%), with no statistical difference between the two groups (pϭ0.12). Medial tears were more prevalent than lateral tears, 74% versus 26%. All repair failures were medial. Age greater than 40 was not significant for failure (pϭ0.26). Side and gender were also not statistically significant (pϭ0. 22 and pϭ0.23, respectively).Conclusions: In this study, age, gender, 'sidedness', were not significant factors for meniscal repair failure. The overall rate of successful healing of meniscal repairs was 92%. Lateral meniscal repairs fared better than medial meniscal repairs. Age and concomitant anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction had no impact on outcome.